Australia
Few places in the world can boast the almost magical change and progress of some of the localities in the central highlands of Victoria. After the momentous discovery of gold the area appeared to “swarm” with diggers of every race, creed and social class, eager to make a fortune. The legacy of the fine gold-boom architecture, which is evident in many towns in the area, bears witness to the heady days of the gold rushes.
Before the gold rushes the area had been the quiet domain of early squatters and Aborigines, many of whom did not want to share their land with the fortune hunters. The increased European population on the Victorian goldfields culminated in political and urban development and great disruption to society. The Victorian population increased from 77,000 in 1851 to 237,000 in 1854, and 411,000 in 1857. According to Geoffrey Serle, ‘perhaps the most significant aspect of life on the goldfields was the degree to which traditional restraints; the acceptance of fair dealing, consideration for one’s neighbour and desire for order were preserved, and how much the fraternal spirit developed and prevailed in such an atmosphere’.[1]
In 1854 the majority of Australian born members of the community were in the minority, and were children of convicts or pre-gold free settlers.[2]
Thomas Dignum, born New South Wales[3]
Charles Howes, born Tasmania[4]
William Quinlan, born New South Wales[5]
Montague Miller, born Tasmania[6]
Frederick Stevens, born Hobart, Tasmania
Also See
References
- ↑ Dorothy Wickham, Family History Research in the Central Goldfields of Victoria, BHSPublishing, 2010; Wickham, Discovering Central Victoria's Goldfields, BHS Publishing, 2020.
- ↑ Eureka - A Multicultural Event by Dorothy Wickham and Clare Gervasoni, http://www.ballaratheritage.com.au/articles/nationalities.html, accessed 27 March 2013.
- ↑ Eureka - A Multicultural Event by Dorothy Wickham and Clare Gervasoni, http://www.ballaratheritage.com.au/articles/nationalities.html, accessed 27 March 2013.
- ↑ Eureka - A Multicultural Event by Dorothy Wickham and Clare Gervasoni, http://www.ballaratheritage.com.au/articles/nationalities.html, accessed 27 March 2013.
- ↑ Eureka - A Multicultural Event by Dorothy Wickham and Clare Gervasoni, http://www.ballaratheritage.com.au/articles/nationalities.html, accessed 27 March 2013.
- ↑ Eureka - A Multicultural Event by Dorothy Wickham and Clare Gervasoni, http://www.ballaratheritage.com.au/articles/nationalities.html, accessed 27 March 2013.
